NORTH CAROLINA, USA — An alarming number of people have been reported missing in our state just this year.
One of them 25-year-old Marissa Carmichael, a triad mother of five who disappeared in January.
We starting digging deeper into missing persons cases.
Greensboro police clarify that you don't have to wait to report when a loved one disappears.
"There's this wrong idea out there, that you have to wait 24 - 48 hours to report somebody missing. You don't and we don't want you to," GPD Detective Mike Matthews said, "If you have a family member and they have gone missing and you've got that bad feeling... report it."
Greensboro Police said missing person cases remain open until they are found. Detective Matthews said data is entered into a national database that constantly updates.
"We also have access to what's called a NAMUS database. That is a missing person database that attempts to match a missing person with unidentified remains human remains," he said.
Greensboro police report about 30 people missing in 2023.
According to the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons in 2023 over 3,000 white teens and adults went off the grid. Over 5,600 black teens and more than 2,000 black adults also went missing last year.
The data above includes runaways. A representative from the state said one of their biggest concerns involves young people is technology.
"It's called online enticement, instead of it being a neighbor or family friend that's grooming children," Morrissa Ahl-Moyer said, "It's now someone online."
She warns about games or apps that allow chat rooms.
Non-profits who help families of missing loved ones say speaking up for your loved one is most important.
"Everyone deserves to be found and everyone deserves the same attention," Director of Missing Persons for the Dock Ellis foundation Michelle Luster said.
In 2024 nearly 3,000 people were reported missing, most have been found leaving 33 open cases.
RESOURCES:
If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, please get in touch with Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 or Send us an anonymous tip online at p3tips.com. Crime Stoppers does not pay cash rewards for tips on missing persons unless criminal charges are filed.
North Carolina Center for Missing Persons: 1-800-522-KIDS (522-5437)
Dock Ellis Foundation: 1 (800) 370-0830